THE FALL OF WAKE ISLAND

The fall of Wake Island

In the central Pacific, a small Marine garrison and civilian contractors turned Wake Island into a symbol of resistance in the opening days of the Pacific War. For nearly two weeks after Pearl Harbor, the defenders repelled air raids and even sank Japanese ships, using coastal guns and a handful of fighter aircraft to make the attackers pay dearly. On December 23rd, 1941, however, a reinforced Japanese invasion force finally managed to land troops and overwhelm the island’s defenses. Fighting raged across the narrow coral atoll as Marines, sailors, and civilians tried to hold improvised positions. With no realistic hope of relief and ammunition running low, the surviving defenders were eventually forced to surrender and went into captivity. Although Wake Island fell, its stand resonated across the United States. Newspapers told of the outnumbered garrison inflicting heavy losses, and the story offered a measure of pride and determination at a time when news from the Pacific was otherwise dominated by setbacks.